The National Conference of State Legislatures is the preeminent bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and legislative staff of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL helps states remain strong and independent by giving our members the tools, information and resources they need to craft the best solutions to difficult problems. Our mission is to serve state legislatures by providing support, promoting fresh ideas, connecting legislators and staff with experts and each other, and being the advocates for states in the federal system.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Director of Communications and Marketing is an exciting opportunity for a results-oriented seasoned professional to impact the success of a national nonprofit membership organization, with offices in Denver and Washington D.C., serving state legislators and legislative staff in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. This position reports to the Executive Director and plays a key role on the executive management team. The Director of Communications and Marketing provides the guidance and vision necessary to develop and implement an innovative, integrated communications and marketing strategy that supports NCSL’s mission. The Director will manage staff and provide leadership across the Denver and Washington D.C. offices in the following areas: content development, internal/external communications, website management, marketing, social media, public affairs, meeting/event planning, and brand/graphics design. The ideal candidate will be a proven leader who is committed to developing and contributing to a positive, performance-based culture with an aptitude for team work, a desire to continuously learn, and a passion for NCSL’s vision and mission. The Director of Communications and Marketing will both guide and produce internal and external communications content including for the NCSL Executive Committee. They will partner closely with the Executive Director and the executive management team to chart the future growth and success of the organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Lead change across the organization with an overall marketing and communications approach and focus, including elements such as member engagement, overall NCSL value to members, social media and digitization.

Seek out new and more effective ways to deliver messaging that engages with NCSL’s members, state legislators and legislative staff.

Cultivate and manage a high functioning marketing and communications team.

Work with the communications team to produce regular updates of activities and services for NCSL members and governing bodies.

Coordinate internal communications strategy to NCSL staff.

Oversee the editorial direction, strategic and creative design, production and distribution of NCSL’s print and digital publications.

Communicate and collaborate regularly with other departments; report on outcomes of the marketing and communications activities.

Develop and use reliable and comprehensive data on member experience/engagement to improve member engagement and NCSL services.

Develop and maintain a marketing and communications budget and track return on investment.

Provide opportunities for professional development including to encourage employee engagement and motivation.

Conduct/oversee market research and monitor trends.

Represent NCSL and build strategic relationships.

Report to the Executive Director, NCSL Officers and the NCSL Executive Committee on NCSL’s communication and marketing strategies and outcomes.

This position has direct supervisory responsibilities of approximately 15 staff members.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers, copy machines, scanners and smartphones.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; open filing cabinets; bend; stoop; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee may need to lift and carry objects up to 50 lbs. Requires the ability to travel locally, regionally and nationally, including overnight and weekends.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience and Education

The successful candidate will be a dynamic leader with a creative and accomplished track record of 10 or more years of communications/marketing experience in the non-profit or public sector with a minimum of four years in an executive-level management position. A Bachelor’s Degree in communications/marketing or related field is required. Post-baccalaureate education is preferred and up to three years of graduate education (i.e. master's degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree) may be substituted for some of the required work experience. Experience working with state legislatures and membership-based organizations is highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Experience in a senior leadership role, preferably for a membership association, with responsibility for communications, marketing and membership functions.

Solid track record of success leading, developing and managing a team to achieve performance objectives.

Exceptional leadership skills; talented at building consensus, inspiring others to action and leading cross-functional work teams.

Excellent verbal, writing and editing communication skills.

Experience directing and allocating budgets in multiple projects or activities.

Experience using leading edge communication technologies.

Skilled at analyzing, interpreting, and using data to approach issues and devise well-organized solutions.

Excellence in working effectively with state legislators and legislative staff and dealing with politically sensitive constituencies.

Flexible and can work within a fast-moving environment while driving toward solutions and accomplishing goals.

Organized and detail oriented with a demonstrated aptitude for setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.

Collaborative, energetic, creative, possessing a sense of humor, and able to connect authentically with colleagues and our members.

Excellent project management skills, including the ability to initiate, anticipate and follow through on multiple projects with firm deadlines.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume highlighting skills and qualifications to: https://ncsl.applicantpro.com/jobs/ no later than Friday, September 27, 2019.

NCSL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

About National Conference of State Legislatures

Since 1975, the National Conference of State Legislatures has been the bipartisan voice of legislators and legislative staff in the states, commonwealths and territories of the U.S. Our mission is to serve state legislatures by providing support, promoting fresh ideas, connecting legislators and staff with experts and each other, and providing a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.
Legislators and legislative staff turn to us for up-to-date, nonpartisan information on critical state legislative issues, including health care, budgets, elections, transportation, education and more. We work to protect state sovereignty and flexibility, fight against unfunded mandates and oppose unwarranted federal pre-emption of state authority. Our experts and their research are regularly cited by prominent national news outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and NPR.
NCSL’s success depends on its dedicated and talented staff. Our staff serves a diverse community of legislators and legislative staff, and NCSL values a diverse workforce that reflects that community. We strive to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people by valuing their varied skills and ...experiences. Employees work in a challenging, often fast-paced environment where they assist legislators and legislative staff in their work to promote the common good of the citizens of the states.